Ornamental stitch sewing machine



March 28, 1961 A. VIGORELLI ORNAMENTAL STITCH SEWING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 29, 1955 INVEN TOR. fl na do 1/190 rel/1' March 28, 1961 A. VIGORELLI ORNAMENTAL STITCH SEWING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 29, 1955 IN V EN TOR.

March 28, 1961 A. VlGORELLl ORNAMENTAL STITCH SEWING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 29, 1955 INVENTOR. Hmmd" y ell; BY

March 28, 1961 vlGORELLl 2,976,830

ORNAMENTAL STITCH SEWING MACHINE Filed March 29, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR ARNALDO VIGORELLI ATTORNEY ted We M ORNAMENTAL STITCH SEWING MACHINE Arnaldo Vigorelli, 1 Viale Lungo Ticino Visconti, Pavia, Italy Filed Mar. 29, 1955, Ser. No. 497,636

Claims priority, application Italy Apr. 5, 1954 2 Claims. (Cl. 112-158) including a vertically reciprocating and laterally movable needle or needles, a drive shaft and crank or other suitable means for reciprocating said needle or needles and eccentric or cam means for laterally moving said needle or needles according to a predetermined cycle of stitching operation, i.e. to sewing machines of the so-called zigzag type and wherein zigzag means are comprised for laterally moving said needleor needles according to said predetermined cycle.

' Known types of zigzag sewing machines for zigzag or for embroidery stitching comprise cam or eccentric driven zigzag means; the ornamental or embroidery stitching is produced as a result of the lateral motion of the needle (or needles) which according to a predetermined cycle of operation pricks the fabric at points laterally spaced from the line along which the stitching would be made if the said zigzag means are made inoperative, the said cam means or other similar suitable devices causing the lateral spacing to be cyclically varied and variously positioned at both right and left sides of said line.

Henceforth, for descriptive purposes, the expression 2,976,839 Patented Mar. 28, 1961 A of an inch, i.e. within the value of approximately plain stitching line will indicate the line, straight or curved, dependent upon how the operator controls movement of the fabric, along which the stitching is produced by typical zigzag or embroidery sewing machines if the zigzag means thereof are made inoperative. The word fabric denotes any kind of fabric or textile material, or any material in sheet form, such as plastic, leather, paper and so on, which may be sewed by machines of the character considered.

It is known that the production of ornamental designs or embroidery stitching patterns of the zigzag sewing machines currently manufactured is subject to certain limitations. In particular, the width of the strip of the fabric on which the embroidery stitching may actually be produced, i.e. the lateral spacing of the stitches from the plain stitching line, is confined within a very small range of values. In general, t he.lateral motion of the needle of zigzag sewing machines actually produced does not exceed one fifth of an inch, and therefore the embroidery stitching maybe confined to a strip zone of the fabric,

A of an inch. This limitation makes the ornamental stitching look like two substantially linear, parallel, neighboring seams.

The aforementioned limitations result from the fact that the amplitude of the lateral motion of the needle or of the needles cannot exceed the dimensional limit determined by the ability .of the cooperating loopercrochet, either of rotary or of reciprocating type and arranged below the sewing or cloth plate or base, to properly hook and loop the thread or threads carried through the fabric by the vertically reciprocated needle or needles, in any one of the positions comprised in said amplitude.

These limitations are also of interest in regard to the productive ability of zigzag sewing machines of the type comprising in addition to the zigzag means of cam means or otherwise controlled devices adapted to control the feeding reciprocating motion of the toothed feed dog means designed to forward the fabric under the action of the effective sewing means (needle or'needles and looper means) in order to.vary, according to a predetermined cycle of operation, the amplitude and/orthe di-v rection of feeding of the fabric, which may cyclically and temporarily be fed in reversed or-backward direction. The. provisionv of such additional devices is advantageous but the practical use thereof is confined to the and improved ornamental stitch sewing machine. The

operation of the machine of the present invention is not determined by the aforementioned limitations. The machine of the present invention is designed to automatically, rapidly and accurately produce a large variety of predetermined ornamental designs or patterns of embroidery stitching, operating either with a single or with a twin needle, and possibly with a triple needle, said ornamental designs or patterns being laterally extended in respect to the plain stitching line to cover a strip zone of the fabric of far greater width than is permissible with known zigzag means.

Another object of the invention is to provide an ornamental stitching machine of the above type including a zigzag means driven device for laterally moving the needle bar thereof, with an additional device adapted to laterally move the toothed feeddog member of the machine according to a predetermined cycle of operation in phased relationship with the cycle of operation of said zigzag means, and consequently adapted to correspondingly laterally move the fabric fed thereby in respect to the-plain stitching line.

Due to the fact that such lateral motion of the fabric in respect to the plain stitching line does not modify the operative position of the needle or needles with respect to the looper means cooperating therewith, the amplitude for preventing the lateral motion from being too abruptly operation has been achieved at high speed. Since themore complex the required ornamental designs of embroidery stitching, the more the operator must keep the machines speed of operation under control to enable viewing of the stitching as performed, it may be seen that far greater amplitudes may be adopted in relation to the lateral motion of the feed dog means. Itwill be obvious poses, and wherein driving means including two cam tracks are provided for moving said feed dog means according to said predetermined cycle and to the aforementioned other predetermined cycle.

Another object of the invention is to provide an im proved ornamental stitch sewing machine of the type described with cam members removably supported in the sewing machine and arranged below the cloth table or plate thereof, and including said two cam tracks;

Another object of this invention is to provide, in a machine of the type described comprising a needle bar laterally moving zigzag means, an additional feed dog means laterally moving device and a further feed dog that by adjusting the aforementioned additional device,

originally designed to impart to the feed dog means a lateral motion of great amplitude, to reduce the amplitude of the lateral motion, the sewing machine speed may be substantially increased according to an inverse function of said amplitude.

It is therefore another object of the invention to provide an improved sewing machine, of the type described including an additional feed dog means laterally moving device as described above, with control means adapted to adjust or regulate the amplitude of the lateral motion from the greatest value permitted by the actual'structure of the machine to the smallest or null value.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved ornamental stitch sewing machine as described with an additional feed dog means laterally moving de vice wherein the control means thereof are adapted for ad usting or regulating same independently from the adustment or regulation of the zigzag conventional or special means with which the machine is provided.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved ornamental stitch sewing machine of the type described with an additional feed dog means laterally moving device adapted to operate according to a cycle of operation in phase and time relationship with the cycle or sequence of operation of the zigzag'means, but including a different number of stitches. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the additional device is adapted to operate according to a cycle of operation including a relatively great number of stitches, e. g., 36 or 40 stitches, which is double the number of stitches, e. g., 18 or 20, respectively, included in each cycle of operation of the zigzag means. In a most preferred embodiment of the invention, the driving and mechanical means, hereinafter described, of the additional device and the zigzag means are operatively connected and geared in such time relationship that the cycle of operation of said additional device starts from the stitch at which any second cycle of operation of the zigzag means starts, i. e.

in said most preferred form of embodiment of this invention each complete cycle of operation of the said additional device thereof exactly covers two complete cycles of operation of the coacting and cooperating zigzag means.

Another object of the invention is to combine, in the construction and in the operation of an improved ornamental stitch sewing machine of the above type, an additional feed dog means laterally moving device and a zigzag needle or needles laterally moving means, as referred to above, with another device adapted to control the feeding reciprocating motion of said feed dog'means for varying, according to another predetermined cycle and in time relationship with the cycles of operation of said additional device and of said zigzag means, the amplitude and/or the direction of the feeding of the fabric.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved ornamental stitch sewing machine of the type described having the additional device and the aforementioned other device adapted to laterally and longitudinally move the feed, dog means for the aforementioned purmeans longitudinally moving device, one disk-shaped cam member bearing both said cam tracks, removably arranged below the machines cloth plate, and wherein the said two cam tracks are formed by a cam groove in one side face thereof and by a suitably notched outer edge thereof, respectively.

Still another object of the invention is to provide, in an improved ornamental stitch sewing machine of the type described provided with an additional device and with another device adapted to laterally and longitudinally move the feed dog means. The machine includes two cam tracks for respectively operating said devices according to the respective cycles of operation thereof and linkage means to drivingly connect said feed dog means to both said cam tracks. The linkage means includes cooperating transmission members arranged in a relative abutting and transmitting relationship in the direction in which said transmission members transmit and in relative freely movable relationship in the direction in which the said members follow the movements due to the operation of the other of said devices, so that the said longitudinal and the said lateral movements may be performed without mechanical interference.

The generic and specific aspects of this invention, to

plate and the most of the conventionally constructed structural parts cut away) of an embodiment of the sewing machine of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a side view, partly in section, of a detail portion of the embodiment of Fig. 2, taken along the line 33-33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side view, partly in section, of a detail portion of the embodiment of Fig. 2, taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a side view, partly in section, of a detail portion of the embodiment of Fig. 2, taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a side view, partly in section, of a detail portion of the embodiment of Fig. 2, taken along the line 66 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of a detail portion of Fig. 6,

taken along the line 7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 illustrates how a plain straight seam may be. modified by the operation of the additional device of the sewing machine of the present invention;

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate two typical ornamental embroidery stitching patterns which may be produced by the sewing machine of the present invention by combining the action of the additional device with the action of the zigzag means, operating according to two different cycles of operation;

Fig. 11 illustrates, by another typical example, how

" invention for covering a large strip zone of fabric by a plurality of embroidery stitchings;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view, partly in section, of a detail portion of the embodiment of Fig. 2; and

Fig. :14 is a perspective view, partly in section, of a detail portion of the embodiment of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to Fig. 1 thereof, the upper or head portion of an ornamental stitch sewing machine produced according to the invention comprises in general the typical combination and arrangement of parts of'zigzag sewing machines currently constructed, wherein a needle (which may be replaced by a twin needle or by two coupled needles, for example) is supported at the lower end of a needle bar 11 which is vertically reciprocated, for example by means of a connecting rod 12 pivotally connected to a crank (not shown) made integral with and driven by the machines conventional main drive shaft 13. The power necessary to drive the components below a cloth plate 15 is derived from a main drive shaft 13, by means of a conventional toothed drive belt 14, for example.

The needle bar 11 moves laterally according to a predetermined cycle of operation by means of any suitable zigzag device. For example, the needle bar 11 is slidably supported in and by an oscillatable needle control member 16 swingably supported at its upper end 17 by the frame structure of the sewing machine (not shown). The needle bar control member 16 is connected to and laterally reciprocated by a suitable linkage means comprising, for example, a two-armed swingable lever 18 and link means 19 and 20, and driven by suitable eccentric or cam means rotated by the drive shaft 13, by means of helical gearing 21, for example, in timed relationship with the vertical reciprocating motion of the needle bar 11.

In the embodiment of Fig. 1, the sewing machine of the invention is provided with zigzag device driving cam means comprising a plurality of cams 22 coaxially arranged and cooperating with cam follower means (not shown) movably supported by a rocking bell crank lever 23 and which can be moved to any one position of the plurality of positions in which the cam follower may be operatively related to one cam of the plurality of cams 22. The cam follower means may be moved between the operative positions of same by acting on a slidable member 60, for example, which is supposed to be connected to or made integral with said cam follower means (not shown). The needle bar laterally moving zigzag means is provided with a controlling device 24 including handle means 25 and designed for having the ratio between the amplitude of the motion of link means 20 (depending upon the shape of the cam track related to the cam follower means) and the amplitude of the motion of link means 19 varied at will, i.e. for having the width of the zigzag seam varied as desired from the greatest amplitude permitted by the structural limitations of the machine, and confined within the aforementioned limits to a null amplitude, for adapting the sewing machine to produce a straight regular seam corresponding to the plain stitching line.

The structure and operation of the elements arranged in the head portion of the sewing machine will not be described in further detail, in consideration of the fact that said elements, their arrangement and their operation are well known. More particularly, the elements arranged in the head portion of the sewing machine diagrammatically shown in Fig. 1 fully correspond to these included in the sewing machine disclosed in my copending application for Letters Patent Serial No. 393,760, filed 6 November 23, 1953, now United States Patent No. 2,906,- 219, for an Embroidery Stitching Sewing Machine.

It is clear, of course, that zigzag devices differing from the one described may be utilized in the sewing machine of the present invention, provided that at least one zigzag means adapted to laterally move the needle bar according to a predetermined cycle of operation is utilized.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as diagrammatically shown in Fig. 1 and illustrated in detail in Figs. 2 to 7 inclusive, the additional device adapted to laterally move the fabric being sewn includes a movable inner plate 30 slidably supported in and by the cloth plate 15, having its upper face flush with or slightly raised above theupper surface of said cloth plate 15. The movable plate 30 therefore comprises an inner portion of the 1 cloth plate 15 surrounding the toothed feed dog element 31. The inner movable plate 30 is adapted and arranged to be reciprocated along the base or cloth plate 15 in a direction at 90 to the plain stitching line. The toothed feed dog element 31 is slidable in the direction of the plain stitching line within the movable plate 30, wherein it is further adapted to be raised and lowered in time for performing its regular fabric feeding action. .That is, the feed dog element 31 is arranged and operated within the movable plate 30 in the manner of a conventional feed dog element in the cloth plate of a conventional machine.

The lateral motion of the feed dog means is imparted, according to a predetermined cycle of operation, to the inner movable plate 30, and thereby to the toothed feed dog element 31, by a cam means including a grooved cam track 32 formed in the upper face of a disk-shaped cam member 33, which is rotated in time and phase relationship with the operation of the elements of the zigzag means arranged within the head portion of the sewing machine. For example, the cam member 33 may be rotated by transmission means including a worm drive gear 34 made integral, for example, with the conventional lower drive shaft 35 with which modern sewing machines are provided for operating the rotary looper-bobbin (as shown (62) in Fig. 2).

The grooved cam track 32 is operatively related to a cam follower pivot or finger 36 slidably arranged therein and connected to an arm lever 37 swingable about a pivot means 38 carried by the frame structure of the machine (not shown). The pivots and the arm lever 37 are so arranged that as the cam track 32 rotates the arm lever oscillates according to the shape of said cam track about an average position nearly parallel to the plain stitching line, i.e. at nearly to the direction along which the plate 30 may be moved.

The arm lever 37 is preferably U-shaped and pivot means 39 is slidable in the groove longitudinally formed therein. The pivot means 39 extends upwardly, through the movable plate 30, to slidably traverse an elongated opening 40 formed in the plate 30 in a direction parallel to the plain stitching line, i.e. at 90 to the direction along which the movable plate 30 may be slidably moved within the cloth plate 15. The elongated opening 40 is extended over the axis of the pivot means 38' of arm lever 37. Hand controlled suitable blocking means, such as, for example, a button 41 arranged above the movable plate 30, are provided to fixedly connect the pivot means 39 in any desired position along elongated opening 40, including the coaxial position of the pivot means 38.

It is clear that the rotation of the cam member 33 causes the arm lever 37 to oscillate about its pivot means 38, and that the amplitude of such oscillation is a function of the shape of the grooved cam track 32 followed by the cam follower finger 36 fixedly connected to the arm-lever 37. If the pivot means 39 (which pivotally connects members 30 and 37) is firmly connected to the movable plate 31) at any desired point along the length of the elongated opening 40, except the coaxial position with the pivot means'38, as the arm lever 37 oscillates the point thereof wherein the pivot means 39 is set travels along an are mainly directed at 90 to the plain stitching line, and the movable plate 30 is thereby caused to be laterally moved, carrying the toothed feed dog element 31 therewith, as desired, according to a cycle of operation which is a function of the shape of the cam track 32, while the amplitude of its lateral motion is a function of the preselected and variable distance between the axis of the pivot means 38 and the axis of pivot means 39. By setting the displaceable pivot means 39 in coaxial position with the axis of:the pivot means 38, the

additional feed dog means laterally moving device is madeinactive, i.e. it is set in its zero or null position.

The improved ornamental stitch sewing machine is also provided with another device adapted to longitudinally move the feed dog means for positioning the fabric above and in frictional engagement with the feed dog element 31 in the direction of the plain stitching line according to a predetermined sequence of variations in speed and/or sense of feeding.

The other device may be actuated and operated by its own cam track, which is preferably formed by shaping the edge 50 of the cam member 33 having the cam track 32, to permit one cam member to control both the additional and the other device. The edge 50 is therefore indicated as the other cam track 50. In Fig. l, the structure of the other device is shown diagrammatically and to demonstrate its essential components and its effect primarily. The preferred embodiment of the other device is fully described with reference to Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 13 and 14.

In a general way, the cam track 50 is operatively related, for example, to cam follower roller means 51 rotatably supported at one end portion of a two-armed lever 52 swingable about an intermediate pivot means 53, for example. The two-armed lever 52 may be pivotally connected by a pivot 54, for example, at its other end portion, to a brace member 55 connected to or made integral with the toothed feed dog element 31. The other device is preferably provided with its own manual control means, including a hand button 56, for example, designed to vary the amplitude of the motion transmitted to the feed dog element 31 as desired by modifying the position of the lever-prop forrring the intermediate pivot 53, for example, and thereby modifying the ratio between the efiective lengths of the two arms of the two-armed lever 52 and between the amplitudes of motion of the cam follower roller means 51 (which is a function of the shape of cam track 50) and of the motion that the pivotal connection at 54 transmits to the toothed feed dog element 31.

In Figs. 2 to 7, 13 and 14, the details of structure and arrangement of the various elements of which the additional and the other devices consist are shown. In the figures, similar components or elements are indicated by the same reference numerals. The precise shape, arrangement and operation of the structure shown in detail in Figs. 2 to 7, l3 and 14 will be readily understood by those skilled in the art upon consideration of the description relating to Fig. 1.

Referring now to Figs. 2 to 7, l3 and 14, the diskshaped cam member 33' of the mechanical assembly arranged below the cloth plate 15 is detachably secured (by means of any suitable known attachment device, not shown) below a helical gear 61 in mesh with the Worm gear 34', which is connected to or made integral with the shaft 35' (which is partially broken away in Fig. 2 to illustrate the elements arranged thereunder), which shaft is driven by the toothed drive belt 14 and drives the conventional rotary looper-bobbin 62. The transmission ratio of meshing gears 34' and 61 is adapted to attain a rotational ratio of 2/1 with the conventional zigzagd'riving cam means withv which. the sewing machine. is rovided;

In the components of the feed dog means laterally moving additional device, the cam follower finger 36' related to grooved cam track 32' is supported at one end portion of an arm lever (Fig. 2) made integral at its other end with a pivot means 38' forming a vertical shaft (Figs. 2 and 6) which at its upper end is made integral with the U-shaped arm lever 37-, shown invertical longitudinalsection in Fig. 6 and in plan view and par-tlybrolcen away in Fig. 2. The hand button 41 is threadedly connected to the fore or upper portion 96 (Fig. 6) of the pivot means 39, so thatby tightly screwing on the button 41 i the means 39' may be secured in any desired position alongthe length of the elongated opening 40 formed in the movable plate 30'. The hand button 41' is preferably connected with an indicating means 94 (Fig. 7) which may be referred to a scale 95 provided on the upper face of plate 30'. The scale 95 may directly indicate the amplitude of the feed dog means lateral motion imparted by the additional device and expressed, for example, in terms of millimeters.

In the actual componentsof the other device, the cam follower roller means 51', operatively related to the other cam track 50' and supported by an arm lever 52' (Fig. 2), is connected to the toothed feed dog element 31' by a linkage means comprising means adapted to modify the amplitude of the transmitted motion, means adapted to longitudinally control the feed dog element without interfering with the lateral movements of said element, and clutch means'adapted to alternatively connect the toothed feed dog element 31' to the driving means of the other device, and to a conventionally constructed and operated reciprocating drive means with which the sewing machine is preferably provided in view of regular plain or zigzag or embroidery sewing not including the use of the other device.

In particular, the pivot means 53 actuating shaft (Figs. 2, 5 and 13) is made integral at its upper end with a small rod-shaped arm lever 66 which is therefore caused to oscillate about the axis of element 53 and the amplitude of the swinging motion thereof is a direct function of the shape of the other cam track 50. A rigid brace member 65 (Figs. 2, 3,- 5 and 13) is pivotally and slidably connected at one end to the small arm lever 66 and it is firmly secured at its other end to a rod member 67 rotatably and slidably supported within a twin tubular member 68, in parallel and spaced relationship with a shaft 69 about which the said twin tubular member 68 may rotate. The member-68 is preferably keyed to the shaft 69.

The shaft 69 is rotatably supported by the frame structure of the machine (shown at its shaft bearing portions only in Fig. 2) audit is'provided with two parallel and spaced arm radialextensions 70 and '71 (Figs. 2 to 4) supporting a crank pin actuating shaft 72 therebetween. A tubular. member 73 (Figs. 2 to 4) is slidably and rotatably supported about the shaft 72 and it is made integral with the brace member 55' connected to the toothed feed dog element 31'. A tubular member 92 (Figs. 2 and 3) is rotatably supported about the said portion of the. shaft 69 farthest from the feed dog means. The tubular member 92 is rotatively reciprocated by the conventionally constructed and operated reciprocating drive means with which the sewing machine is provided and which is not shown in the drawings except at the end portion 93 (Figs. 2 and 3) of a conventional connecting rod comprised therein.

The tubular members 68 and 92 are provided with oppositely and symmetrically arranged radial extensions including toothed clutch end portions 104 and 163, respectively. The shaft 69 is made integral with a block portion 91 (Fig. 2 and, more particularly, Fig. 3) arranged between the tubular members 63 and 92 and the radial extensions thereof. A clutch member 30 swingably supported by pivot means 132 (Fig. 2 and, more par.- ticularly, Fig. 3), is connected to the-block portion 91 of the shaft 69 and is adapted to alternately engage with aerasso,

9 either the clutch end portion 104 or the end portion 103 (in Fig. 3, the member 90 is shown in engaged relationship with the portion 103 of the tubular member 92), thereby angularly connecting the shaft 69 to the tubular member 68 or alternatively to the tubular member 92.

A hand button 56', shown in Fig. 2 in dot and dash lines, is positioned above the cloth plate 15'. The hand button 56' is rotatively connected to an arm lever 80 (Fig. 2) operatively related to a two-armed lever 81 pivotally supported at 82 by the frame structure of the machine (not shown) and having an end portion 83 (Figs. 2 and 3) arranged in abutting axial relationship with the rod member 67 slidable in the twin tubular member 68 and engaging the upper form-shaped flip-flop clutch control member 105 (Fig. 3) which is swingably supported by the pivot 102 of the swingable clutch member 90 and connected to the latter member by means of trigger spring 106 arranged to snap the clutch member 90 towards the end portion 104 of the twin tubular member 68 or alternatively towards the opposite end portion 103 device rotatively connects the shaft 69 to the reciprocated tubular member 92. The shaft 69 is therefore reciprocated by the conventional reciprocating drive means of the sewing machine, causing the crank pin forming shaft to travel along an arc and the toothed feed dog element 31 to be longitudinally moved according to the regular uniform cycle of feeding action.

If the hand button 56' is turned clockwise with refer ence to Fig. 2, the end portion 83 is moved towards the slidable rod member 67, the clutch control member is caused to swing left with reference to Fig. 3 snapping the clutch member 90in engaged relationship with the twin tubular member 68, thereby disengaging the reciprocated tubular member 92 from shaft 69, which is on the contrary rotatively connected to twin tubular member 68. The member 68 is caused to oscillate about the axis of the shaft 69 according to the predetermined cycle resulting from the shape of the other cam track 50', due to the linkage actuated by the brace member 65 (Figs. 2, 3, 5

and 13) between the small arm lever 66 (rotatively connected to cam follower 51' and compelled to oscillate together with the cam follower 51' about the axis of pivot means 53') and the rod member 67, which operatively actuates a pivotal connection of the brace member 65 to the twin tubular member 68. In such condition of the described elements the other device is ON and the toothed feed dog member 31' is driven in its longitudinal motion by the cam track according to the cycle of operation defined by the shape thereof.

By a further clockwise rotation of the hand button 56', the end portion 83 is urged towards and against the head portion of the rod member 67, causing such rod member to slide leftward (with reference to Figs. 2, 3 and 13) within the twin tubular member 68 and correspondingly displacing the brace member 65. Such leftward displacement makes the pivotal and slidable connection thereof with the small arm 66 farther from the axis of the pivot means 53 about which arm lever 66 is oscillated, by the action of the other cam track 50 on the cam follower means 51 related thereto, and thus enlarges the 56 to control the device to ON or OFF, .as desired, and

also to adjust or vary the amplitude of the motion of feed dog means, when controlled by the other device.

The described arrangement of the transmitting elements 72 and 73 (Figs. 2 to 4) is based upon the fact that the toothed feed dog element 31 may be laterally moved by the operation of the described additional device, while of Fig. 2.

10 said feed dog element is simultaneously subjected to th operation of the means for longitudinally moving the said feed dog element. The slidability of the tubular member 73 (connected to the eventually laterally moved feed dog means) along the crank pin forming shaft 72 allows the feed dog member or element 31 to be moved in a direction parallel to the shaft 72, i.e. at to the plain stitching line, while properly subject to the longitudinaldrive.

In any sewing machine of the type considered the toothed feed dog element is vertically reciprocated for engaging the fabric during its feeding movements and for freeing the fabric therefrom during its return movements. In view of such consideration, the vertically reciprocating drive means of the machine must be connected to the feed dog element in such manner that the vertical motion may be transmitted without interference with the other lateral and/or longitudinal movements of said feed dog means.

The preferred embodiment of the invention shown is provided with'a vertically reciprocating device for the feed dog means including, for example, a shaft 97 3 (Figs. 2 and 4) which is reoiprocated by any suitable conventional means including, for example, the end portion 98 (Fig. 2) of a conventional connecting rod and pivotally connected to a crank lever 99 made integral with the shaft 97. The shaft 97 is provided with a radially extending arm bearing a roller 100 (Figs. 2 and 4) horizontally slidable but vertically engaged between two spaced, parallel, horizontal and flat brace portions of a fork-shaped member 101 firmly secured to the toothed feed dog element 31. 7

Figs. 13 and 14 further illustrate detailed portions In Fig. 13, the shaft 53 is rotated in directions AB by the. action of the roller 51' following the cam surface 50' of the'cam member 33. The cam follower 51' is supported by a brace 200 integral with the shaft 53'. The enlarged head 201 of the shaft 53' supports the brace66 which correspondingly rotates in direction A-B. The head 201 is recessed to allow a slide block 202, pivotally supported at 203 on an end of the brace 65, to be translated in direction C until near the axis of the shaft 53 (for reducing the amplitude of reciprocation of such brace, for adjustment).

The brace 65 is fixedly connected to the shaft 67 which may longitudinally slide in the twin tubular member 68;

is not varied, due to the pattern of the cam surface 50'.

In Fig. 14, the longitudinal feed motion LM of the feed dog 31' is caused by the brace 55'. The brace 55 is integral with a bifurcated end portion 101 having two parallel horizontal portions 210 and 211 defining a space wherein the roller 100 may horizontally slide, while reciprocation of the shaft 97 in the direction NO causes the up and down movement PQ of such bifurcated end and of the feed dog 31'. The roller 100 therefore transmits only a vertical motion, and does not prevent either longitudinal (for feeding the fabric) or transverse (for embroidery) horizontal motion.

The transverse movement is caused by the fork formed by spaced vertical members 212 and 213 which are intogral with the member 3-1, which member 31' is connectedto the slide plate 30'. A rounded member 214 is slidably 214 transmits the transverse movement R.S and does not disturb the longitudinal. movement and the'up and down movement PQ. v Thus, the-brace 5'5 drives the feed dog 31 longitudinally only. The shaft '97'andi acvassd the. roller 100 drives the feed dog vertically-only, and the members 212, 213 and'214 drive said feeddog transversely only. Noneof thesedevices disturbs. or interferes with the motion of the other ofthese devices.

Someofthe advantages of the sewing machine of the present invention may be made apparent by some examples of embroidery patterns which the improved machine may produce. machine with a cam track 32 adapted to impart a properly varied lateral motion to the feed dog means, the resulting lateral movement of the fabric may transform a plain straight seam 120 (Fig. 8) in a waving pattern 121, for example, cyclically repeated in any cycle of operation of the additional device, andwhich comprises a number 20 of stitches, wherein indicates the number of stitches comprised inthe cycle of the conventional zigzag device of the sewing machine.

When the conventional zigzag device is utilized for producing, for example, a conventional zigzag seam 122 (Fig. 9), the cooperation of zigzag device and of the additional device will produce the pattern 123, comprising a fringed wave ornamental design. The cooperation of the additional device with the zigzag means, set to produce :a different zigzag embroidery stitching 124 (Fig. causes the stitching of another differing pattern 125, whereinthe scalloped design as shown at 124 is combined with the linear wave form shown at 121 (Fig. 8).

The simple but typical examples of Figs. 8, 9 and 10 show few basic ornamental designs which may be produced by making use of theconventional zigzag means cooperating with the described additional feed dog means laterally moving device only. If the cam track 32 is adapted, for example, for producing a large zigzag pattern, for example, as shown at 126 in Fig. 11, Le. for cyclically producing a substantially W-shaped seam, by combining the action of the additional device with the action of the conventional zigzag means, which is set for producing the zigzag scalloped embroidery design as shown'at 124 in Fig. 10, a fringed ornamental stitching as shown at 127 in Fig. 11 is produced.

If the other device is then provided with a cam track 50 shaped to operate the feed dog means according to a cycle including a gradual slowing down of the forward movement of the fabric until it stops and then a backward movement of the fabric, during a period comprising few stitches, and then a gradual speed up again of the fabric in its regular forward feeding motion, by causing theother device to cooperate in the described sewing machine and set to produce the design shown at 127 in Fig. 11, a looped fringed ornamental pattern as shown at 128 in Fig. 11 is produced.

An example of ornamental embroidery which may be readily produced by the new and improved sewing machine of the present invention is shown in Fig. 12. The illustration of Fig. 12 is obviously vivid in full color, utilizing different colored threads.

The ornamental embroidery design is produced by using a conventional twin needle and two threads of differing bright colors, setting the conventional zigzag means for producing a uniform zigzag seam of narrow width, setting the additional device for producing a wave pattern as shown at 121 in Fig. 8 and setting the other device for feeding the fabric according to the cycle described in conneotion with Fig. 11. The portions 129 of ornamental design of Fig. 12 are made by turning the other device Off and by repeating the seams in inverted direction of fabric alongeach plain stitching line, while the portions 130 are produced by single passages made by turning all means and devices Q11 and set as above.

Notwithstanding that such large embroidery workcomprises a large number of sewing passages "al'ong parallel plain-stitching lines, for example, 12 passage's, such basic parallel-ism of seams "doesnot detract-from the livelyap- For example, by providing the pearance of the embroidery work, as would be thecase if sucha wide, strip zone of the fabric were covered by a plurality ofnarrow ornamental zigzag seams'as only zigzag sewing machines provided withneedle laterallymoving means may produce.

The production of such wide ornamental designs as.

the described additional device may produce and the described combination of such wide designs with narrower The combination of three cooperating and cyclically.

related but independently operable and adjustable embroidery devices, i.e. of the conventional zigzag means and of the described additional and other devices in the sewing machine of'the present invention, will allow the production of a great variety of greatly dilfering embroidery patterns by varying the condition of the cooperation only, i.e. by utilization of manual control means 25, 41 (41) and 56 (56') or the equivalents thereof. The difference in appearance of the pattern shown at 127 from the pat-.

tern shown at 128 in Fig. 11 and of the design shown at 129 from the design shown at 130 in Fig. 12 demonstrates the new and improved effect that the simple manipulation of the button 56 (56) may create in a machine in which a cam driven fabric feeding means cooperates with a device adapted to cyclically and laterally space the actual stitching from the plain stitching line to a substantial ex- While I have illustrated and described the inventionas embodied in an ornamental stitch sewing machine origi nally provided with cam means driven zigzag means, I do not intend to be limited to the detail shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of my invention.

Without further consideration, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of my invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are in tended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of this invention, as defined in and by the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent is:

1. In a sewing machine, in combination, feed dog means; support means; a shaft carried for oscillatory turning movement about its axis by said support means and operatively connected to said feed dog means for oscillating the latter; a pair of tubes through which said shaft slidably extends, said tubes being spaced from each other and respectively having ends directed toward each other; a pair of oscillating means operatively connected to said tubes, respectively, for respectively oscillating the latter. about the axis of said shaft at diiferent cycles of oscillation, respectively; and clutch means carried by said shaft between said tubes for selectively placing said shaft in driving engagement with one or the other of said ends of said'tubes to oscillate said feed dog means in accordance with the oscillations of a selected one of said tubes.

'2; A feeding means for a zigzag sewing machine having a first lateral oscillating means-operatively connected-t0 13 a needle carrying means for laterally oscillating the latter; feed dog means for feeding the material to be stitched; support means; a shaft supported for oscillatory turning movement about its axis by said support means and operatively connected to said feed dog means for longitudinally oscillating the latter when said shaft oscillates about its axis; a cam disc supported for rotation about its axis by said support means and having an outer camming periph cry and a side face formed with an endless camming groove; a pair of tubes through which said shaft slidably extends, said tubes being spaced from each other and respectively having ends directed toward each other; second lateral oscillating means cooperating with said groove and operatively connected to said feed dog means for laterally oscillating the latter; first longitudinal oscillating means operatively connected to one of said tubes for oscillating the same about the axis of said shaft; second longitudinal oscillating means cooperating with said camming .14 periphery and operatively connected to the other of said tubes for oscillating the same about the axis of said shaft; and clutch means carried by said shaft between said tubes for placing said shaft selectively in driving engagement with one or the other of said ends of said tubes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 193,691 Christopherson July 31, 1877 420,073 Jones Jan. 28, 1890 2,152,766 Lewin Apr. 4, 1939 2,311,222 Galkin Feb. 16, 1943 2,693,778 Harris Nov. 9, 1954 2,731,929 Ayres Jan. 24, 1956 2,755,754 Urscheler July 24, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 286,446 Germany M Aug. 9, 1915 

